Michael S. Gaarder

Michael Gaarder grew up in a small, Iowa town where he learned to work hard, cultivate meaningful relationships and truly appreciate life by laboring on the family farm and spending time with his grandfather, a World War II veteran and prisoner of war.

While enlisted in the United States Navy, he served as a volunteer assistant on the Naval Legal Service prosecution team and was an integral member of the Staff Judge Advocate's Office in Yokosuka, Japan. Although these opportunities inspired his interest in the legal system, Michael did not pursue his law degree until many careers—vacuum sales, finance, construction, private security—and years later.

Michael believes his varied life experiences help him better listen, relate to others and explain the law in ways people can understand. His clients agree. If you ask them to describe Michael, you’ll hear words, like “honest,” “knowledgeable,” “approachable” and “grounded.”

He serves clients in all of the firm’s practice areas but focuses primarily on family law, personal injury, contract/business disputes, employment law, new business formation, criminal defense and appeals. Michael credits valuable experience as a law clerk under Crow Wing County Judges Fred Casey and Richard Zimmerman for his ability to present solid motion arguments and cases at trial.

From 2013-2016, Michael was nominated, evaluated and selected by his peers to be recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Stars attorney by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine in its Super Lawyers edition. From 2017-2024 Michael was nominated, evaluated and selected by his peers to be recognized and named to Super Lawyers. Michael was previously named a 2013 Northstar Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association for his significant pro bono work.

Michael was the 2014-2015 President of the Cloud City Achievers BNI Chapter in Saint Cloud. When he’s not working with clients or volunteering in the community, he enjoys family time, non-fiction books and adventures in the outdoors.